

In some jurisdictions, using rat poison for anything other than rats is illegal.

Here’s another thing to think about: Whether it’s legal or not for you to use rat poison to kill squirrels where you live. But there are more ethical and humane solutions you can try before resorting to rat poison for killing squirrels. You might not care too much about the pests ruining your garden and making your backyard space challenging to enjoy. The squirrels you poison will suffer, which can present an ethical concern for many people. Others might take a week.Įither way, it’s a slow process that doesn’t occur instantly. Most products will kill squirrels in a day or two. We’ve already talked about what these poisons do. Is killing squirrels a humane way to approach your pest issue? No matter how committed you are to the welfare of animals, there’s no denying that poisoning is an awful way to die. Here’s where some people have a harder time than others. Don’t expect the same universal effectiveness with squirrels as with rats. While the rat poison will certainly kill a squirrel that ingests it, getting the pest to eat it is half the battle.

They prefer whole nuts for storage, so they might not always eat rat poison they find outside. Squirrels are pickier about what they eat. Both rats and squirrels love nuts, so peanut butter-based poisons can work well, but there’s no guarantee. They’re not as needy as rodents, and their tastes are more discerning. Either way, rats scarf the poison down without needing much convincing.

It’s more of a poisoned bait than anything else. Many manufacturers also combine the poison with edible foodstuffs that the rodents might like. As a result, most rats will eat poison without even pausing for consideration. They rummage through garbage and will eat just about anything they can get their grimy little hands on. You see, rats are notoriously opportunistic. One of the biggest challenges of using rat poison to kill squirrels is getting these critters to actually eat the stuff! Here are a few reasons to reconsider using rat poisons. Rat poison can kill squirrels, but there are some serious drawbacks you need to think about before you pursue this method. Just because something works doesn’t mean it’s always the best option. Rat poisons can kill squirrels quite easily, but does that mean you should use them? Should You Use It? Meanwhile, the latter causes calcification of the organs.īoth anticoagulant alternatives take a bit longer than the standard formulas, but they work nonetheless. The former creates toxic gas when it comes in contact with stomach acid. However, you might come across others that use phosphide or calciferol. As a result, the rodent dies a slow and painful death.Īnticoagulant-based poisons are most common. Once that bleeding occurs, the anticoagulants make it impossible for the blood to clot. In only a day or two, they become weakened enough that the squirrel experiences internal hemorrhaging. The chemicals work to weaken the blood vessels. The most common utilizes anticoagulants mixed with noxious chemicals. There are a few different kinds of rat poisons on the market today that you could use to kill squirrels. They’re about the same size as rats, and the poisons affect these animals similarly. Technically speaking, squirrels are part of the rodent family. The stuff is toxic to a wide variety of animals! The short answer is that rat poison will kill squirrels. They have a knack for ruining bird feeders, marring pristine yards, and even getting into homes through attics! Most people see them as nothing but a minor backyard annoyance, but squirrels can do plenty of damage that forces you to look into control methods. These toxic products clearly work well on rodents that can invade your homes and possibly spread disease. From easy-to-disperse pellets to flavored bait bars, it’s not hard to get your hands on these lethal products.īecause they’re so readily available, many homeowners have toyed with the idea of using rat poison to kill squirrels. Rat poison is a readily available pest control method that you can pick up poison at many big box stores and often have a decent selection of choices.
